Latest North Dakota news, sports, business and entertainment:

health care OVERHAUL Conrad suggests compromise on health care Washington (AP) President Barack Obama hits the road today to pitch health care reform to middle America.

He'll be holding a town-hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The president wants to overhaul the current system to extend coverage to the 50 million people who don't now have health insurance.

Senator Kent Conrad and others think the idea of nonprofit, health care co-ops might be the bridge needed to satisfy both Republicans and Democrats in Congress.

The compromise proposed by Conrad would involve seed money from the government but not government control.

Democrats might be able to pass an overhaul plan alone, but Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus says a bipartisan consensus would boost public support and improve chances that the new system would catch on.

UNIVERSITY BIAS U of ND group suggests diversity officer Grand Forks, N.D. (AP) A University of North Dakota group looking into bias and intolerance on campus is recommending a diversity officer.

The report says incidents of bias and racism on campus may be UNDerreported, and it says some officials seem too worried about public relations and legal liability issues.

Dan Rice is a UND dean and the task force chairman. He says UND not exempt from the tension that is part of society as a whole.

UND President Robert Kelley has asked administrators to review the report.

Information from: Doug Barrett, KNOX-AM, http://knoxradio.com oil PIPELINE State official sees more interest in oil transport Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The state mineral resource director says a proposal to move oil from northwestern North Dakota into a pipeline from Canada has led to more interest in other ways of getting the oil to market.

A recent study outlined three options for a pipeline from the Williston Basin to connect to the TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone Pipeline starting in southern Saskatchewan.

State Mineral Resource Director Lynn Helms discussed the study at a recent oil and gas meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan. He says North Dakota companies are looking at it, but other proposals have come up as well.

Helms says a rail station at Stanley is being upgraded to ship crude oil to Oklahoma. He says that's a temporary fix until new pipelines come on line and he says it shows confidence in North Dakota crude.

Information from: Dave Thompson, KCND-FM, http://www.prairiepublic.org CASINO BALLROOMS Spirit Lake Casino plans new ballrooms FORT TOTTEN, N.D. (AP) The Spirit Lake Casino is planning a $3 million renovation that will include two new ballrooms.

Groundbreaking is set for noon Monday. General Manager Paul Matheny says the renovation will be finished in about seven months.

He says the new ballrooms will seat about 200 people each for weddings, conferences and special events, and a moveable section can be opened to combine them into one large ballroom.

The casino and resort is owned by the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe.

Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com WAGON TRAIN Wagon train marks Napoleon's 125th anniversary NAPOLEON, N.D. (AP) A caravan of about 80 people has set off in a wagon train to celebrate the town of Napoleon's 125th anniversary.

The wagons are to reach the town southeast of Bismarck in time to join its Saturday morning parade.

The wagon train left McKenzie on Wednesday morning with the riders in frontier outfits. They traveled about 20 miles before stopping for the night.

Organizer Marv Brendle rode in a wagon train 25 years ago to celebrate Napoleon's centennial. He started putting together this week's ride more than a year ago.

Dee Bauer is riding in costume with her husband and daughters.

She says, "You don't get many chances to do things like this." Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com RIPPING TABS State officials say license tabs may rip Fargo, N.D. (AP) State transportation officials say a manufacturing defect is causing some North Dakota license plate tabs to easily rip, or not stick to the license plates.

The Transportation Department says it has about 100 complaints from around the state, with most of them coming from the Fargo and Minot areas. It handles about 900,000 tabs a year.

The department is working with the vendor to fix the problem.

People with defective tabs can call the department's motor vehicle division in Bismarck to have them replaced.

Transportation Department Motor Vehicle Division: 701-328-1986.

Information from: Jim Monk, KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com CARDINALS-HILL Virgil Hill's son drafted by Cardinals BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) The son of North Dakota boxer Virgil Hill is headed for a pro baseball career.

Virgil Hill Jr. was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the Major League Baseball draft.

The younger Hill grew up in California and plays center field for Los Angeles Mission Community College. He says he hopes to sign with the Cardinals this summer.

Hill Sr. won an Olympic silver medal in 1984 and has held both the WBA light heavyweight and WBA cruiserweight belts during his pro career. He hasn't fought for nearly two years.

Information from: Grand Forks Herald, http://www.grandforksherald.com MIDWEST FLOODING-Cass County DAM Cass County dam to get repairs ABSARAKA, N.D. (AP) A flood-damaged dam on a tributary of Swan Creek just north of Absaraka in western Cass County will be getting some repairs.

Erosion on the earthen spillway cut a hole 10 feet deep. It prompted 24-hour monitoring by the National Guard, and required emergency repairs.

Chad Engels, an engineer for the Maple River Water Resource District, says the permanent fix will cost about $75,000. The federal government will pay about 75 percent of the cost.

Information from: Don Haney, KFGO-AM, http://kfgo.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-11-09 1110CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list